At least 50 migrants have died after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen due to bad weather. It is said that more than 150 passengers were on board the boat.

According to local officials, the accident happened near the Abyan area in the southern province of Yemen.

Abayan Security Directorate has issued a statement saying that several bodies have been recovered in a large area of the coastline and the search operation is continuing. 

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), most of the dead are Ethiopian citizens. Yemen is a major route for migrants from the Horn of Africa to the Gulf countries.